WALWORTH — It would appear vandals singled out Lisa Anne Kreger and her 4-year-old Palomino, Dusty, when they spray painted an “R” on his side and cut his mane and tail off, but Kreger said she and Dusty will overcome thanks to the outpouring of support she’s received.

Kreger spent last Monday scrubbing the black paint off of her 4-year-old Palomino Dusty. She almost got it all off, but Dusty’s skin was showing signs of irritation.

Kreger headed out to the barn at her home on Lincoln Road in Walworth last Monday morning, July 21 at 6:30 a.m. to feed the horses and discovered the vandalism. A letter “R” had been spray painted in black on the stall door and on her horse. Dusty’s mane, tail and forelock had also been hacked off haphazardly. Nothing else in the barn had been touched Kreger said.

She called police and New York state police are now investigating, talking to some persons of interest. Kreger said she doesn’t know why she was singled out, but told investigators about some recent bullying on Facebook she’d been trying to ignore. State police are not releasing details at this time.

Since the incident, Kreger has been inundated by support from people around the world. That Monday, Kreger said she posted photos and details of what happened to Dusty on Facebook. Much to her surprise, the news went viral.

Last week, Kreger had over 1,500 (and counting) friend requests on Facebook and over 3,300 followers. She has received kind words of caring and support from as far as Australia, France, England, the United Kingdom, Wales and South Africa. A horse stable in Connecticut, Wildfire Farm, sent Kreger bottles of expensive fly spray. Others have offered her fly nets, tail extensions and even reward money to help catch the culprits.

“They tried to hurt me and they tried to hurt my horse,” Kreger said. “Now my horse and I are blanketed with love from around the world.”

Kreger got Dusty just a year ago, but she’s dreamed of owning a horse for 40 years. Over the years, she’s been fortunate enough to have neighbors and friends who have shared their horses with her and taught her everything she now knows to care the horse she knew she’d have someday.

“I’ve been lucky enough to have horses in my life,” she said. “Now I have my own.”

She formed an instant bond with Dusty who has become a therapy horse. Kreger is disabled and has undergone three surgeries on her neck. She also suffers from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Caring for Dusty is her physical therapy.

“He helps me cope with life,” she said. “He’s helped to heal me.”

Several people on Facebook who also suffer from PTSD have reached out to her and they have formed something of a support group, Kreger said. Her hope is to someday open a not-for-profit rescue facility for horses where people with PTSD can get therapy by taking care of the horses — from grooming them to riding them — whatever they need to heal, she said.

Page 2 of 2 - For now, Kreger welcomes the visitors stopping by to see how she and Dusty are, and the kind words and comforting support she has found in her community and online.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the state police at 589-2046.